PINAKI MAJUMDAR
Jamshedpur, March 16: The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) released a white paper on e-commerce on Wednesday to address the widely concerning issues in the realm of e-commerce.
Over the past few years, e-commerce and digital trade in India have seen an exponential growth and have witnessed wide acceptance among the consumers. Since e-commerce is here to stay, it becomes essential that the interests of all the stakeholders, including the sellers, are protected.
The CAIT carried out a study of the growing significance of digital trade and e-commerce, present market size of the sector and its future growth, increasing importance of e-commerce marketplace platforms, existing laws which deal with e-commerce sector and practices which are prevalent in the sector and made part of the white paper.
The 50 pages white paper has five chapters and also contains a set of 27 recommendations for the Government to be incorporated in e-commerce policy and 9 recommendations for incorporation in Consumer Protection (E Commerce) Rules,2020.
CAIT secretary general Praveen Khandelwal and
national secretary Suresh Sonthalia appreciated the attempt of the government to roll out e-commerce policy and various statements of Union commerce minister Piyush Goyal several times in the past that the law and policy will have to be obeyed by one and all.
” We expect that e-commerce policy will be rolled out soon and the distortions and disparities in e-commerce will come to an end paving the way for a competitive e-commerce trade environment in the country., ‘ said Sonthalia.
He further said that discussing the issues, they have suggested that e-commerce policy must address the concerns emanating from lack of platform neutrality, excessive discounting, unfair usage of data etc., and ensure that an inclusive approach is adopted for the industry.
In order to ensure the same, they have also suggested that e-commerce should also have a specialized regulator which would be able promote and implement inclusive growth and ensure interests of all the stakeholders are protected.
The recommendations also call for formation of an empowered regulatory body to regulate and monitor e-commerce business.
It has strongly argued that the marketplace should act purely as a trade intermediary and a place for the buyers and sellers to meet rather than engage in any kind of business for itself.
